Dulce

“Yeah, actually, that sounds pretty good,” I agree.

“Done.” Griff nods before heading out and leaving me alone with Hunter.

I don’t know him well. Actually, I don’t know him at all beyond the background check done on him at The Candy Shop. But I do know he never liked me, and he was not afraid to let me know it.

I roll over onto my back. Hunter’s hand slides from my hip to my stomach with the motion. He leans up on his elbow and looks down at me, his sandy blond hair falling into his indigo eyes, eyes that search mine. For what, I don’t know, but whatever it is, it makes him smile.

He dips his head and presses a kiss to my collarbone before rolling away and climbing out of bed. Fuck me sideways. He’s only in boxers too.

“Come on, I’ll show you where the bathroom is.” He holds his hand out to me, and I have to mentally tell my hand to grab it because all my brain seems to care about right now is the V-shape with the happy trail and the—

“Ev?”

“Right, sorry. I spaced out for a second.”

“My dick seems to have that effect on women.”

“What, they all drift off when they stare at your dick? I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Not that I was looking, of course.”

“Of course. And it’s a good thing. Everyone wants to be in the dick zone.”

“The dick zone? Oh God, no, please tell me you’re pulling my leg.”

I sit up and laugh, reaching for his hand.

“I mean, you can pull something, but it won’t be my leg.” He grins, making me snort.

So, he is joking, and I have a sneaky suspicion it’s to put me at ease.

When I stand up, I realize the jacket I was wearing is gone, along with my socks and sneakers, leaving me in just my sports bra and shorts.

Hunter’s eyes flare for a moment as a jolt of awareness rushes through me but he grips my hand and tugs me toward the door.

“It’s not safe to be around you when there is a bed in the same room,” he mutters under his breath, making me frown.

“What’s with the one-eighty? I thought you hated me.”

“I never hated you, Ev. That was the problem.”

“Oh… OH, but…” I’m slightly flummoxed. I genuinely didn’t see this coming. I know I’m good with my marks because I turn on my charm and do everything I can to make them attracted to me, but I’m not naïve enough to assume every man is into me.

I honestly thought he hated me and hated the fact that I was with his friend, like I was scum beneath him or something.

“Really?”

“You never knew?” He turns to look at me, searching my face. “You never knew,” he mutters, shaking his head with a sharp laugh.

“You were a dick to me,” I point out.

“You were my best friend’s girl,” he reminds me.

My mouth snaps shut at that.

“And now?”

“Now you’re not.” He winks before pushing the door to the bathroom open.

“Shower. I’ll grab something for you to wear. When you’re done, follow the smell of bacon and you’ll find the kitchen.”

“Hunter,” I start, but he stops me with a finger to my lips.

“Not now. Shower, then food, then we’ll talk. All three of us.”

He leaves, and I stand there for a moment with my mouth open because what the fuck just happened? Seriously, when did my life become a soap opera?

Stomping into the bathroom, I practically rip my clothes off, feeling agitated with no outlet.

I jump in the shower and shiver as I wait for the cold water to heat up. I keep my hair up and out of the way, not wanting to have to deal with drying it. I wash and then stand there, letting the spray beat down on me, trying to find some measure of calm.

When did everything start to fall apart?

I want to pretend I don’t know, but I can’t. I know the exact moment a crack appeared in my psyche. It was when I fucked Griffen’s dad. I had to do it. At the time, I had no idea it would all be for nothing, or I wouldn’t have bothered. But in that moment, I had my mission, and I couldn’t let my feelings get in the way of saving the girls that had been bought and sold like cattle.

I did it even though I knew it would hurt Griffen. I did it even though I knew it would destroy me. After every shitty thing I’ve done, it’s the one thing that keeps haunting me.

Now I have to face him, knowing he wants something I can’t give him. Hell, I can’t even answer his fucking questions. When you throw Hunter into the mix, a mess becomes a clusterfuck, and that’s without all the bullshit swirling around Willow Creek or the other men that want a piece of me.

I close my eyes and, for a moment, I wish I had wings so I could fly away. I shouldn’t have come here. I’ve made everything so much worse.

With a sigh, I shut off the water and climb out, snagging the towel from the rail. I pause when I see my clothes missing and a pile of clean clothes folded on the edge of the counter.

“Shit, fuck, shit. So fucking stupid.”

I’m not mad that one of them thought nothing about walking in here while I was naked. What I’m concerned about is that they have all the evidence I collected earlier.

With a frustrated growl, I yank on the borrowed boxers, T-shirt, and sweatpants—rolling them over at the waist a few times. I hurry out of the bathroom, down the hall toward the staircase, doing just what Hunter said, following the smell of bacon.

I walk into the kitchen and see Hunter and Griffen leaning over the kitchen counter, staring at the photos spread out before them.

“Wow, rude much?”